France's Foreign Ministry has condemned the killing of a top colonel from the Indian Ocean nation of Comoros.

A statement from France's Foreign Ministry says Col. Combo Ayouba was killed at his home in Moroni this weekend.

Monday's statement says France "hopes that those responsible for this killing will be identified and be brought to justice."

France says the killing underlines the need for "a rejection of violence in favor of sincere and constructive dialogue" at a time when the African Union is leading efforts to reach agreement on a date for elections on the unstable island.

The Comoros islands, with a population of 700,000, have experienced a series of coups and political upheavals since gaining independence from France in 1975.